Purely Wasting My Time

Principal Sarutobi Wu came to the rooftop of the teaching building and watched the sparring in the training ground.

Beside him were Team Leader Huìdài and the Three-Body Technique teacher, Quan Yan.

Huìdài said, "Principal, the Young Master gave Young Master Asuma a Ninjutsu scroll, and Young Master Asuma actually learned Wind Release Ninjutsu."

Sarutobi Wu nodded, in a good mood.

As an important Jonin of the Sarutobi Clan, he had controlled the Ninja Academy for many years and cultivated numerous outstanding Sarutobi Clan ninjas.

Quan Yan said from the side, "I was supposed to teach Young Master Asuma the Three-Body Technique for several more years, but Young Master Asuma learned a higher-level Nature Transformation Ninjutsu on his own."

Sarutobi Wu glanced at Quan Yan and said, "Quan Yan, as a Three-Body Technique teacher, you mustn't underestimate the Three-Body Technique.

The teachers at the academy have less practical combat experience than ninjas who have survived several years on the front lines. Sometimes, a single Substitution Technique can turn the tide of battle and change a team's fate."

"Yes, yes, Principal. I just wanted to say that Young Master Asuma has an extremely high talent for Ninjutsu."

Quan Yan was extremely frustrated. He was always terrible at flattering people, while Team Leader Huìdài was far more seasoned in that regard.

Sarutobi Wu looked at Asuma's opponent, Uchiha Ling, and said:

"Last term, I originally wanted Uchiha Ling to graduate early, but I didn't expect the head of the Uchiha Clan to intervene.

The Uchiha Clan's reach is really long. They even want to interfere with the Village's future development."

Quan Yan asked from the side, "Principal, why don't we recruit a large number of Uchiha Clan ninjas to the front lines?

Most of them stay in the Military Police Force. It's too safe and too comfortable."

Sarutobi Wu said, "The Village's higher-ups must have their reasons for making such a policy."

He did not want to explain. Sending a large number of Uchiha Clan ninjas to the front lines would cause their strength to rise rapidly.

Facing death and loss would stimulate the Uchiha Clan, causing the Uchiha who survived to grow ever stronger. That was something the Village did not want to see.

Quan Yan's mouth went bitter. He had said the wrong thing again. He hurriedly changed the subject:

"Look! Young Master Asuma is using Ninjutsu for the second time! As expected of Young Master Asuma—he can use Wind Release Ninjutsu twice in a row!"

In the training ground, Asuma Sarutobi formed three Hand Seals, took a deep breath, and blasted it toward Uchiha Ling.

This felt incredible!

All his frustration from this long period was swept away with this blast of Wind Release.

He was the number one person after Kakashi!

However, confusion and panic quickly appeared in his eyes.

Uchiha Ling formed Hand Seals as well.

What is he doing? Has Uchiha Ling also mastered Ninjutsu?

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The gust of wind, carrying immense pressure, surged toward Uchiha Ling.

Great Breakthrough required three Hand Seals and was quick to cast.

Great Fireball required six Hand Seals and was slower to cast.

By the time the gust struck Uchiha Ling, the fireball had only just appeared.

However, Fire Release countered Wind Release.

The high temperature and pressure released by the Great Fireball disrupted the airflow.

The gust crashed into the Great Fireball and rapidly collapsed into chaotic currents that could no longer be controlled.

The Great Fireball's scorching heat had already made Asuma's face burn.

Yamano was about to intervene—he couldn't let Young Master Asuma get burned—but when he saw the fireball stop advancing, he held back.

The fireball, over a meter in diameter and as tall as a person, completely suppressed Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and hovered two meters in front of Asuma.

Once the two Ninjutsu ended, Asuma Sarutobi stood there dejectedly, his eyes hollow and the corners of his mouth drooping.

He had practiced Wind Release Ninjutsu painstakingly throughout the entire holiday. After mastering it, not only had his older brother praised him highly, but even his father had carefully asked about the details of his training for the first time.

He had originally thought he would become the number-one Ninjutsu user in his class and grade, but then...

The heat wave from the Fire Release made his eyes sting. Asuma Sarutobi lowered his head and stared blankly at the ground.

[There is a ninja nearby whose defenses have been broken. The Defense-Breaking System is activating...]

[Asuma Sarutobi has triggered a Defense Break. Extracting an ability related to Asuma Sarutobi. The host may choose one of three options.]

Option One: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough;

Option Two: 0.2 kǎ of Chakra Amount;

Option Three: Basic Kunai-Throwing Technique.]

Uchiha Ling's current Chakra Amount was 0.6 kǎ, of which 0.3 kǎ had been extracted by the system. His own Chakra Amount was 0.3 kǎ.

Last year, the system had shown Asuma's Chakra Amount as 0.1 kǎ. It was now 0.2 kǎ, which was actually a pretty good rate of improvement.

Without Uchiha Ling, Asuma would undoubtedly have been the number one person after Kakashi's Early Graduation.

If Yu had been born first, why was Liang born too?

Of the three options, Uchiha Ling chose Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.

He now had both Wind and Fire attributes. Learning another Wind Release technique would let him practice using Wind Release Chakra from time to time, preventing the attribute from sitting idle and going to waste.

In the original story, Orochimaru seemed to like using Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. The technique probably had its merits.

Still, Uchiha Ling felt that Asuma was hopelessly underutilizing his potential, guarding a mountain of gold without knowing how to mine it.

Danzo had so many powerful Wind Release techniques, including one that could cut through Susanoo, and you learned only Great Breakthrough?

"Asuma Sarutobi, you've made this little progress and already want to challenge me? You're purely wasting my time.

Go back and settle yourself down.

Remember, don't act rashly. The moment you make a move, others will know exactly how weak you are."

"Uchiha Ling!"

Teacher Yamano entered the training ground and, unusually, intervened in the sparring:

"Mastering a Nature Transformation Ninjutsu at the age of six is outstanding among students of any class!

Asuma Sarutobi has improved at an astonishing speed. In both talent and effort, he is unquestionably among the best students from the classes three years above and below him. His rate of improvement is simply inferior to yours.

Asuma, don't be discouraged. Your performance has already been excellent."

Asuma Sarutobi felt much better after hearing Teacher Yamano's praise.

That was right. He had improved very quickly. He was merely not as fast as Uchiha Ling.

Asuma Sarutobi left the training ground. Nara Saku, Akimichi Takashi, Obito, and the others all comforted him.

Morino Ibiki raised his hand again. "Teacher! I want to challenge Uchiha Ling!"

Seeing Morino Ibiki, Uchiha Ling felt bitter inside and hurriedly said:

"Teacher! I admit that I was partly putting on an act just now. I used up too much Chakra during my spar with Asuma.

My whole body is weak now, and I can't extract even a trace of Chakra.

I refuse to spar with Morino Ibiki!"

Yamano nodded. "Fire Release and Water Release consume relatively large amounts of Chakra among the Five Nature Transformations. You must have expended a great deal defeating Asuma."

"Yes, yes, I expended a great deal."

"Then arrange another sparring match for Ibiki."

Obito Uchiha asked Nara Saku from the side, "Saku, why do I feel like Uchiha Ling is especially afraid of Ibiki?"

Nara Saku shook his head. "I'll observe a little longer and see whether Ibiki has mastered some kind of secret."

Ibiki sparred with Aoba Yamashiro. After watching the entire match, they still couldn't find anything special about Ibiki. At most, he was tougher than everyone else; after being hit, he looked as though nothing had happened.

After school, Nara Saku stopped Morino Ibiki.

"Ibiki, how did you manage to make Uchiha Ling avoid you?"